How Miracles Work

John Maxwell @ Lakewood Church

1. How a Biblical Miracle works in my life?

• When there is a need sensed by a few.

• Each individual understands his or her responsibility and gives his or her all regardless of the odds.

* Hot & Cold Analogy: The people were anxious to hear Jesus but they had no idea what was going to happen. God has things waiting for you.

2. There is no miracle without a problem.

• The seed of a miracle is a problem or a need.

• The people didn't seem aware of the problem, but the disciples did.

NEED #1 Mark 6:34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

NEED #2 Mark 6:35-36 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat."

3. The disciples sensed the need but only had suggestions.

• v. 35 (see above)

• This is how a lot of us pray!

4. The disciples wanted Jesus to do everything so when He told them to do it they were shocked.

• Mark 6:37(a) But Jesus said, "You feed them."

• God wants to partner with us.

5. John 6:9 "There's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?"

SIDE NOTE: The kid probably didn't want to give up his lunch.
* It's hard to care for others when you are comfortable.
* The request made no sense at all.
* The kid didn't need Jesus but they understood their responsibility regardless of the odds.

CONCLUSIONS

1. Some of us need to let go of that which gives us security (Trust Jesus with your lunch.)

2. Jesus can d a lot with a little.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm

Accepting People For Who They Are

Pastor Joel @ Lakewood Church

• GOD is the potter, not me. Only God can trully change people. When we work overtime to change people into us.

1 Corinthians 3:7 It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.

• The same God that made the butterfly made the locust. The same God that made the poodle made the butterfly. The same God that made the horse made the mule. The same God that made me [Joel] made my brother Paul!

Colossians 1:16 for through him God created everythingin the heavenly realms and on earth.He made the things we can seeand the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.Everything was created through him and for him.

• When we're always trying to change someone, there is an underlying tension.

• We are drawn to people who have stengths that are different than ours. Not everyone has it all we all have weaknesses and we are supposed to make allowances for those not change them.

Colossians 3:12-13 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

• Our job is to love people...accept them...encourage them...

• The other person may not change but I can. I don't have to spend years reacting negatively to those differences.

Proverbs 18:22 The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,and he receives favor from the LORD.

-- Sent from JRochelle's Palm

Random Pictures from my Palm